Working in sales isn’t for everyone, so make sure you are hiring a sales team that is coachable and will stay with your company for the long term. You need to look for several key traits when hiring a sales professional so you don’t have to spend too much time training the individual on basic interpersonal skills and can focus more of your training and coaching efforts on processes your company uses.

Here are some key things to look for when hiring a sales professional:

Takes Initiative

Many sales roles are independent, so the individual has to be comfortable taking matters into their own hands when needed. Whether this involves following up with a customer, preparing reports or learning some better skills, you need someone who is willing to go out of their way to get the job done without much prompting or even coaching.

Good Listeners

The only way to close a sale is to truly connect with the buyer. Good sales professionals will take the time to listen to their clients’ needs instead of taking the lead on pushing their own agenda. They want to make sure the client feels comfortable and most importantly, heard. Look for traits that indicate the professional is a good listener and takes the time to connect with people.

Persistent

Most sales people are turned away frequently and are used to hearing, ‘no thanks’. Your sales team needs to have the courage to keep going even when they are facing of rejection. The strongest sales professionals will be okay with rejection and will take the time to figure out how they can improve so they are that much closer to closing the sale. Being persistent is an important characteristic of any sales team member.

If you need help finding qualified sales professionals to fill a sales role at your company, consider working with a reputable recruiting firm. Morris Bixby Group can help you fill sales and marketing positions by connecting you with a large talent pool that has already been screened by our team.